While in Malawi, we had the opportunity to change many people’s lives by traveling to many small villages and sharing the gospel. We often walked several miles to reach these villages that had not heard of Jesus. This is the story of how I witnessed the change of one boy’s life… (Written by Jessica Miller)
When I first laid eyes on him, I knew there was something different about the young boy who stood before me. I just didn’t know what. This is where his story begins.
This past month in Malawi, our ministry was to church plant. We were working with the head pastor of the central region of Harvester International Ministry named Pastor Harvey. We would go into an area of Malawi, partner with a local pastor, and then share the gospel. That local pastor would set up a church in that area after we left. One of the pastors we partnered with was named Pastor Charles. He lived in Ntcheu, which was a tiny town just a few hours outside the capital city. On one of the nights we did outreach on the main road in a parking lot of a shopping building. We had just finished sharing the gospel message and many gave their lives to the Lord. It was a beautiful thing to be a part of. After the sermon we asked if anybody had any needs they wanted prayer for. And that’s when I met him.
He approached me very unsure of himself; I think he was very scared. Who wouldn’t be walking up to a complete stranger and having to be completely vulnerable? He was tall for a person his age and he reached to just a few inches under me. He wore a pink and purple wind breaker which was very tattered, his pants were very dirty and his tennis shoes didn’t even fit on his feet. He had to walk on the backs of them so he would at least have something to walk on the rocky road with. And then he smiled. He had a smile that lit up a room, and that’s exactly when my heart was stolen.
Isaac’s beautiful smile
I asked, “How can I pray for you”. He uttered the words that nobody wants to hear, the words that are like a dagger to the heart. He said, “No mother. No father”. He was all alone. His English wasn’t great, so I grabbed a translator. The first translator I saw walking by was with Jess Edquist. So I grabbed them and asked for their help. At that moment I didn’t know what a huge God moment it really was. I now know God wanted me and Jess to be involved in this boy’s life. We began to get down to the bottom of his story. Why was this boy alone? Why had he not been taken care of? And what had happened in his life?
This is his outfit and how he looked
This boy I talk about name is Isaac Phiri and his story deserves to be known. Isaac had been orphaned for awhile but was being taken care of by his sister. Then his sister died and he was all alone. He had been alone for a year living in a bus station. The bus station was not suitable for anybody to live in and most certainly not a twelve year old boy. Flocks of men were always hanging around and there was a lot of traffic in and out. Who knows how much he actually did sleep, if at all. Isaac’s only means for food was to beg. He ate whatever he could get his hands on. But he was very polite and very smart. He had managed to go to school from the bus station. He was in primary four, which is behind for his age.
Bus station. “Isaac’s home” Just outside the bus station
When Jess and I heard his story we both started tearing up. WHY? How could this precious child of God be living all alone and have nobody that cared? Jess and I were willing to do whatever it took to get this boy off the streets. We were ready to provide a home, food, clothing, and most of all the love of Christ. After talking with him we made a plan to meet the next morning. We talked to Pastor Charles about options for Isaac’s life. He wanted to be involved and was going to go with us in the morning. We were going to take actions to better Isaac’s being and most importantly do what Christ would have done, help someone in need.
The next day we walked to the B.P. Station where we were going to meet Isaac. The meeting time was supposed to be at 9 o’clock, but we showed up a little late. Isaac was nowhere to be found. I started wondering if I put my own desires to help this kid above my trust in the Lord. Since we showed up late did we miss our chance to see him? Why wasn’t he there? So many questions were running through my head, and if we missed our chance to help this boy I would never forgive myself. So we sent Pastor Charles and Pastor Harvey out to look for him and we girls (Jess, Tara, Jen Lev, and me) were going to stay just in case he came. Ten thirty came around and Isaac was still not there. The Pastor couldn’t find him and nobody knew where he was, but God told us to be patient and wait.
I was sitting waiting for Isaac and out of the corner of my eye I saw his beautiful little smile. I ran to him. Finally he had arrived and I threw my arms around him and gave him a big hug. I was so full of joy. In that moment I must have felt like God feels when one of his children returns to him. He sat down and we bought him food and a drink. From this moment on he was safe, protected, and most importantly loved for probably the first time in a long time.
We wanted to provide somewhere for Isaac to go so we asked Pastor Charles if an orphanage would be an option. We wanted to get him off the streets A.S.A.P. He said we would have to make sure he had no relatives before we could just take him there, but it could be a possibility. If we took him and he had relatives we could get in big trouble or they could take him right out of the orphanage. Isaac had once lived in a village just a few minutes car ride down the road so Jess, Pastor Charles, Isaac and I got in the car and were going to get down to the bottom of things.
We parked the car on the top of a mountain and walked for about 20 minutes up and down a beaten dirt path. He knew exactly where his old house stood even after all this time. When we got there a family greeted us, but it was not Isaac’s. Isaac sat down and shared more of his story. But the family did not know him. They said they have never heard of Isaac and that they had lived in that house for a long time. At this point Pastor Charles said that it didn’t look good because his story wasn’t matching up. But deep down inside Jess and I knew he was telling the truth. We knew God wouldn’t have allowed us to give our hearts to this boy if he was just going to crush it.
After we talked to the family awhile Isaac explained more of his story. His mother and father were immigrants from Mozambique. Around the time Isaac was born, a war broke out in Mozambique and many people fled to protect their lives. Isaac’s parents were one of them. Mozambicans did, in fact, settle in the village that he said he lived. After the war was over, Isaac’s parents went back to Mozambique and his father soon died. His mother didn’t know what to do so she brought Isaac and his sister back to Malawi. Soon after returning, Isaac’s mother died too. So he and his sister were left orphaned. After awhile she died as well. So he was all alone. The only way of taking care of himself was begging for food and living in that wretched bus stop. A connection was made from Isaac’s story and the family. His sister was named Lillian, which was the name of the mother of the family. She died a few years back, so they said she might have known about him. Lillian is a very uncommon name in Malawi so Pastor Charles said it wasn’t by coincidence they had the same name. The family said if they were related they give us full permission to take care of Isaac. Pastor Charles told us his family must all be dead. So we said goodbye and left the house.
We walked back to the car and on the way discussed what we should do with Isaac. I asked if there were any orphanages around and he said there was a good one. So we asked Isaac and he said he didn’t want to go to an orphanage; he wanted to go to school. So Jess asked if there was a boarding school and Pastor Charles said he knew a good one right down the road. The thing is orphanages are free, but boarding schools cost money. We were going to go out on the limb and trust God. He told us he knew the headmaster of the school pretty well that we could go right there and see how much it cost and if they even have openings. In the car on the ride there I asked God, “How can I afford this or take this responsibility”? I have no money, no job, and I am 22 years old; how can I take care of this twelve year old boy? And God said to me, “I was hungry and you feed me, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, and I was naked and you clothed me”. That was enough for me. I knew Isaac is what the Lord was calling me to and no matter what the cost I was in it for the long haul. I knew God would and will provide.
Isaac walking with the headmaster me and Jess meeting with the teacher
We went to the school and met with the headmaster and another head teacher. We told them Isaac’s story and our situation. We asked how much school was for the whole year and they told us the price. It was definitely affordable, especially with our resources in America. But who was going to take care of Isaac’s situation when we weren’t there? After talking with Pastor Charles, he said he would take care of everything. He would sign for guardianship and be responsible for Isaac and all his needs back in Ntcheu, and we would have dual guardianship and provide financially for him in the States. On holidays when they are out of school, Isaac will stay with Pastor Charles and his family. We asked them when we would be able to get Isaac in the Academy and he told us they could take him in that day. We just had to go buy basic needs for him to start school, stuff most kids would have but due to his situation he had nothing. So we took him shopping, bought him all new clothes, bedding and everyday needs. Then he went to Pastor Charles house and he took a shower and put his new clothes on. When he came out my jaw dropped. He looked like a new man.
Our new little man Isaac getting new shoes
We then dropped him off at school. Jess and I felt like new mothers sending our boy to school for the first time. We took lots of pictures and hugged all over him. It was a hard day leaving Isaac. I know the whole day was such a God day, but it’s hard leaving something you love so much. I gave Isaac my heart and I know the Lord did as well. Jess and I have committed to staying with Isaac for the long haul. Just because we are out of Malawi doesn’t mean we don’t care about him. So we are going to see him through until he is at least out of high school. Isaac is now part of our world race family. He has two new mothers and plenty of aunts (thanks Tara, Jen Lev, and all you other girls) and uncles.
The school meeting with the headmaster
Isaac with the mom’s and aunts the outside of New Era School
Isaac’s story is just starting. God is going to use him in big ways. He already has big plans for him, like meeting us. I pray Isaac grows up serving God with everything in him. If you have been touched hearing Isaac’s story and you want to support him, contact me through my email at [email protected] or on the side of this blog hit contact me and send me a message. We need to raise $1,000 USD for school fees and other expenses. I know the Lord will provide, so if you want to help be a part of Isaac’s story we would love that.
